Isolated town in northern border region

Xiao Lie ushered him into the house.

When Tieshan sat down, his back straightened unconsciously.

Xu De also walked over from the side, still holding a silver needle he hadn't had time to put away, and sat in the corner looking at Tieshan.

Xiao Lie poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.

"General Tie, I have something to ask you..."

"What exactly happened before and after my father's death?"

Tieshan looked down at the cup of tea, not answering immediately, but slowly speaking after a while.

"The late emperor fell ill on his way to the northern frontier."

"That day, the late emperor was looking at a map when he suddenly collapsed on the table. When he woke up, he was delirious and acted like a puppet. The military doctor could not diagnose the cause of his illness."

"Later, Mo Shu came and said that the late emperor had fallen ill from overwork, and prescribed a medicine."

"One of the ingredients in that prescription required royal tribute to be obtained. After the news reached the capital, Xiao Mu, who was then Prince Xin, personally delivered the medicine."

Tieshan raised his head and looked at Xiao Lie.

"After the late emperor took that medicine, his spirits did indeed improve a lot."

"But it's not normal... The late emperor was incredibly energetic. He didn't even sleep. He spent all night looking at maps and writing orders, as if he was rushing to do something."

"I was standing guard outside the tent at the time and felt something was wrong, but Mo Shu said it was just the medicine taking effect and that it would be fine in a few days."

He paused for a moment.

"A few days later, Mo Shu suddenly found me and said that the late emperor had ordered me to escort him back to the mountain gate to retrieve a certain medicine."

"I was worried, so I had my younger brother Tie Gong stay close to the late emperor."

Tieshan's voice lowered.

"I was drugged on the way, and when I woke up, Mo Shu was gone."

"When this humble general rushed back to the military camp, the late emperor had already..."

He didn't finish speaking and remained silent for a long time.

Xiao Lie didn't speak; he just listened, but the more he listened, the more something seemed off!

Tieshan raised his head.

"Your Highness, I have been thinking about one thing for the past few years: I am afraid that Xiao Mu was not responsible for the late emperor's death."

Xiao Lie's gaze shifted slightly.

Why?

Tieshan looked at him.

"Because the medicine prescribed by Mo Shu was the last medicine the late emperor took."

"As for the medicinal ingredients on that prescription, Xiao Mu only sent one of them."

"Moreover, I was right beside the Emperor of Chu when he came to deliver the medicine."

"Xiao Mu's concerns at the time did not seem fake, and he even advised the late emperor to withdraw his troops and return to the capital."

He paused.

"Imagine someone who wants to usurp the throne; how could they advise the late emperor to withdraw his troops?"

"If the late emperor truly returns in triumph and directly passes the throne to Your Highness, what will become of Xiao Mu?"

Xiao Lie tapped his finger lightly on the table.

"you mean……"

"Mo Shu poisoned the Emperor, yet the Emperor of Chu believed that he had poisoned his elder brother?"

"It also made the Emperor believe that his own brother had poisoned him!"

Tieshan didn't speak, but his silence was like a needle, precisely piercing through all the lies.

Xu De sat in the corner, a silver needle falling onto his lap with a soft sound. He bent down to pick it up, as if he wanted to say something, but Xiao Lie spoke first.

"If Father Emperor thought the poison was administered by his own younger brother... then it's not surprising that he wrote the will the way he did."

Xu De couldn't help but interrupt.

"But what is Uncle-Master... oh no, what is Mo Shu after?"

Xiao Lie did not answer.

He stood up and walked to the window, the night wind blowing in and ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said something.

"What he's after is irrelevant now, because whatever his motives, it's all inextricably linked to him!"

"However... my uncle, who I've been taking for granted, has truly felt guilty all these years."

Xiao Lie turned around.

"He believed he had killed his brother, which is why he swore before his father's spirit that he would return power to me."

"It was out of guilt that he let me grow up."

That's why he hesitated when I volunteered to go to the northern frontier.

Xu De frowned.

"If you feel remorse after hitting rock bottom, why did you want to kill His Highness?"

"If it weren't for His Highness's incredible luck during this trip to Wolf Gaze Mountain..."

He smiled.

"Simple... At first he felt guilty... but later... he didn't want to pay it back."

"Because once you've been sitting on the dragon throne for a long time, you become reluctant to step down."

Xu De opened his mouth and then closed it again. Tie Shan sat there with his head down. The courtyard was quiet and oppressive, like a stagnant pool.

After a while, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, breaking the silence.

Bisu pushed open the door and ran in, her eyes red and her face still wet with tears.

When Jiang Min saw Xiao Lie, she opened her mouth, but her voice choked up.

Xiao Lie looked at her, his brows furrowing slightly.

"What's wrong?"

Bisu took a deep breath and tried to calm her voice.

"Your Highness... News has come from the Jing Kingdom—the Emperor of Jing has passed away."

Xiao Lie's fingers paused for a moment.

Bisu's voice lowered even further.

"The Crown Prince ascends the throne."

"The Third Prince... has been imprisoned."

"The princess..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Xiao Lie already understood.

He turned around and grabbed the outer robe hanging on the wall, moving very quickly.

Where is she?

Bisu pointed to the guest rooms in the backyard.

"Inside the house... she locked herself in and wouldn't let anyone in."

Xiao Lie had already strode out.

Jiang Min's door was closed.

Xiao Lie stood outside the door and knocked twice, but there was no response from inside.

He knocked twice more, but there was still no response.

A moment later, the door was pushed open from the inside.

Jiang Min stood at the door, her eyes red-rimmed, her face without tear stains, as if she had already cried. Her hair was disheveled, and her face looked much more haggard.

Xiao Lie had never seen Jiang Min like this before. In the past, she always had the air of a graceful and noble princess.

She looked at Xiao Lie, her voice much softer than usual.

"Your Highness, my elder brother has been imprisoned."

"The decree issued on the day the new emperor ascended the throne accused him of forming cliques for personal gain and plotting a rebellion."

"Even my authority over the Bureau of Folklore has been abolished."

Xiao Lie didn't speak, he just looked at her.

She said another thing.

"I am returning to the Jing Kingdom."

Xiao Lie looked at her face, which was trying to remain calm but was slightly flushed, and after a moment of silence, he spoke.

"I'll go with you."

Jiang Min's gaze paused slightly.

"Your Highness, I have already lost power and cannot help you."

"This trip back to China might..."

Xiao Lie didn't explain, but simply stepped aside to make way for the doorway.

"Let's pack our things."

"I'll go with you first thing tomorrow morning."

Jiang Min stared at him, her gaze lingering for several breaths.

Then she nodded slightly, said nothing, and turned back into the house.

The door wasn't closed completely, leaving a small crack.

Xiao Lie stood outside the door, the night wind blowing through the long corridor behind him.

"What a turbulent time!"

"Uncle... just what kind of person are you?"

"What kind of trouble will Jingguo cause this time?"